Roku and TCL Facing Class Action Lawsuit Over Defective Televisions
- And TTE Technology, Inc., which operates as TCL North America, are facing a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that defective software updates have rendered tens of thousands of...
- The lawsuit, filed on March 27, 2026, in California, claims that the companies deployed faulty operating system updates that effectively brick devices or substantially degrade their functionality.
- The filing, identified as 8:26cv748, asserts that Roku and TCL failed to ensure software updates were free of defects during the testing stage and at scale.
Roku, Inc. And TTE Technology, Inc., which operates as TCL North America, are facing a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that defective software updates have rendered tens of thousands of smart televisions unusable.
The lawsuit, filed on March 27, 2026, in California, claims that the companies deployed faulty operating system updates that effectively brick
devices or substantially degrade their functionality. According to the 43-page complaint, these defects can result in screens that remain blacked out, a total loss of video capabilities, or screens that flash on and off repeatedly.
Legal Allegations and Consumer Impact
The filing, identified as 8:26cv748, asserts that Roku and TCL failed to ensure software updates were free of defects during the testing stage and at scale. The lawsuit describes the underlying platform as one that cuts corners
, leading to system failures that deprive consumers of the fundamental purpose of their televisions: the reliable display of audio and video content.
Beyond the technical failures, the lawsuit alleges that the defendants failed to take corrective action after releasing the defective updates. The complaint states that the companies did not adequately inform consumers, offer compensation, or release patches to fix the problems.
Despite consumers’ persistent complaints of repeated system failures, often leaving their TVs completely inoperable, Defendants offer no recourse
Else v. Roku, Inc. Et al.
The lawsuit further claims that when consumers reported these issues to Roku or TCL, they were directed to self-guided troubleshooting pages. The filing alleges that these instructions were often insufficient, forcing consumers to spend additional time and money on repairs or replacements to restore functionality.
Scope of the Class Action
The proposed class includes all United States residents who purchased Roku TV products manufactured by Roku, Inc. Or TCL between December 16, 2024, and the present. The lawsuit specifically names several affected models, including:
- Roku Select Series
- Roku Plus Series
- TCL 3 Series Roku TVs
- TCL 4 Series Roku TVs
- TCL 5 Series Roku TVs
- TCL 6 Series Roku TVs
The legal action is brought under several California statutes, including the California Unfair Competition Law, the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act, and the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
Business Context
The lawsuit targets the core of Roku’s business model, which relies on continuous software updates to maintain security, enhance user experience, and support device features. While Roku promotes its operating system as the #1 selling TV operating system
in the United States and emphasizes its maturity and optimization, the plaintiffs argue that the actual deployment of these updates has been flawed.
The complaint alleges that Roku did not disclose to consumers that its televisions were susceptible to these faulty updates, despite a large number of complaints posted on the company’s own Community Support Forum.